Cardiotoxic Effects of Yew Tree and Pink Periwinkle Alkaloids

Antitumour herbal medicines based on pink periwinkle and yew tree alkaloids are included in combination therapies for many types of cancer. The use of these classes of products may entail cardiotoxic effects leading to life-threatening conditions. The aim of the study was to analyse scientific literature on cardiotoxic effects of anticancer drugs based on yew tree alkaloids (taxanes) and pink periwinkle alkaloids (vinca alkaloids). The results of the analysis demonstrated that the main manifestations of taxane-induced cardiotoxicity were bradycardia, atrioventricular block, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Concomitant use of taxanes and anthracycline antibiotics exacerbated cardiotoxic effects of both drug classes. The use of vinca alkaloids was associated with haematological toxicity in the form of neutropenia, while cardiotoxic effect was rarely observed during monotherapy. Raising awareness among oncologists, cardiologists, and other specialists involved in the management of cancer patients about potential cardiac complications of antitumour therapy contributes to early detection of adverse reactions and allows for individual correction of treatment regimens, especially in patients with predisposition to cardiovascular disease.

Paclitaxel: Application in Modern Oncology and Nanomedicine-Based Cancer Therapy

Paclitaxel is a broad-spectrum anticancer compound, which was derived mainly from a medicinal plant, in particular, from the bark of the yew tree Taxus brevifolia Nutt. It is a representative of a class of diterpene taxanes, which are nowadays used as the most common chemotherapeutic agent against many forms of cancer. It possesses scientifically proven anticancer activity against, e.g., ovarian, lung, and breast cancers. The application of this compound is difficult because of limited solubility, recrystalization upon dilution, and cosolvent-induced toxicity. In these cases, nanotechnology and nanoparticles provide certain advantages such as increased drug half-life, lowered toxicity, and specific and selective delivery over free drugs. Nanodrugs possess the capability to buildup in the tissue which might be linked to enhanced permeability and retention as well as enhanced antitumour influence possessing minimal toxicity in normal tissues. This article presents information about paclitaxel, its chemical structure, formulations, mechanism of action, and toxicity. Attention is drawn on nanotechnology, the usefulness of nanoparticles containing paclitaxel, its opportunities, and also future perspective. This review article is aimed at summarizing the current state of continuous pharmaceutical development and employment of nanotechnology in the enhancement of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic features of paclitaxel as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Machine learning tools can now help with improving Taxol production in plant cell cultures

Chemotherapeutic intervention for cancer care is an important step. One of the most effective chemotherapy agents in use today is Paclitaxel (PTX), sold under the common name Taxol and Oxanol. Due to its ability to inhibit microtubule formation in cells, PTX is effective at all stages of the cancer and is FDA approved for treatment of many types of cancer (ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer). PTX is a plant alkaloid in the taxane family of compounds obtained from bark of the Pacific Yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) [1]. Adequate market supply of PTX has remained a challenge, as paclitaxel represents only a minor proportion of the total taxoid content of the Taxus species. Over the years, research into finding an alternate to cutting down Yew trees for PTX harvesting has been on the forefront. It is estimated that up to 60 trees may need to be harvested for the treatment of one patient.

“The Blood Jet Is Poetry”: Sylvia Plath’s Practical Poetics

This essay discusses the nature and function of poetry and poetic inspiration as central themes in the poetry of Sylvia Plath, an aspect of her poetry that has elicited surprisingly little critical attention over the years. Here, I trace the poetological strand in Plath’s poetry through four poems: the early ‘Black Rook in Rainy Weather’ (1956), ‘The Moon and the Yew Tree’ (1961), and, finally, ‘Ariel’ and ‘Lady Lazarus’ (both October, 1962). These poems all engage with and raise issues that relate to poetics in different ways. Read together, these four poems demonstrate the centrality of poetological themes in Plath’s poetry—how they in different ways represent and debate the genesis, nature, form, and function of poetry.

The discovery of taxol: Wall, Horwitz, Holton

Taxol is a widely employed drug for chemotherapy of breast cancer and finds use for ovarian and lung cancer as well as for Kaposi’s syndrome. Getting from the discovery of taxol to approval for treatment of cancer took 30 years. The molecule was discovered in the Pacific yew tree, where it occurs in very small amounts. Early studies proved encouraging but not striking enough to generate real enthusiasm for pushing taxol forward. Then Susan Horwitz discovered its mechanism of action—it prevents the dissolution of microtubules—and enthusiasm strengthened. The problem at that stage was getting enough taxol to treat patients. Environmentalists were concerned that harvesting trees for taxol would destroy basically all of the Pacific yew trees in old forests, a legitimate concern. The discovery of a taxol precursor in the English yew, where it occurs in substantial amounts, coupled with the synthesis of taxol from that precursor solved the supply issue. It is now made by total synthesis. Determination by a few scientists over decades brought this important cancer drug into practice.

“I Am the Eternal Green Man”: Holistic Ecology in Reading Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls

Holistic ecology considers nature and society as a whole, viewing humans and the environment as interdependent and interconnected. This article takes the lens of holistic ecology to examine the representation of human–nature relationships in Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls (2011) and explores how the novel guides the child reader to an environmental mind-set beyond overt didacticism. The article focuses on two aspects of the bond between the magical tree and the human characters in the novel: how the powerful tree empowers humans and how the human characters contribute to the tree’s expressions of power. The eternal Green Man—as the tree introduces itself—embodies this bond by being simultaneously tree-like and human-like, a complex merger of “the Green” (nature) and “the Man” (humanity). The monster-tree fulfils several powerful and empowering roles, such as monster and storyteller, destructive force and powerful healer, savage and philosopher, nightmare and escape. Importantly, it always keeps the shape of a yew tree. As such, A Monster Calls can contribute to children’s environmental education by illustrating the connection between the natural environment and humans: the eternal bond between “the Green” and “the Man.”